“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your resident who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11 NASB

“Keep the Sabbath day to treat it as holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. For six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; you shall not do any work that day, you or your son or your daughter, or your male slave or your female slave, or your ox, your donkey, or any of your cattle, or your resident who stays with you, so that your male slave and your female slave may rest as well as you. And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to celebrate the Sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NASB

Before we jump into week 2, let’s contemplate on this past week. How did we do with putting the Sabbath into practice? Did we find time, even if just a few moments – to stop and rest? I pray that each of us experienced it in some way.

Have you noticed lately, in our current culture, the idea of self-care and wellness is everywhere? We’re encouraged to take breaks and indulge in things that make us feel good. The “mindfulness movement” is spreading rapidly in our society. But Sabbath is something much deeper and more transformative than any wellness plan. It’s a command from God that carries profound implications, not only for our personal well-being, but for society as a whole.

Let’s start with some Bible knowledge. The first 5 books of the Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—are called the Torah. That word means “law,” but a better way to think of it is “teaching”. These books aren’t just rules; they tell the story of God forming a people and showing them how to live in His freedom. Here’s what’s cool: there’s a 40 year gap between Exodus and Deuteronomy, and they were written to two very different groups. Exodus was for the generation that had just come out of slavery in Egypt. Deuteronomy was written for their kids—people who hadn’t been slaves but were about to step into the Promised Land. In a sense, Deuteronomy is a second telling of the law, but with a different emphasis because this generation needed a different reminder.

In Exodus, the Sabbath command is rooted in creation just like we focused on last week. It recalls how God worked for 6 days, creating the heavens, the earth, and everything in them, and rested on the 7th day. The commandment is clear: we, too, are invited to join in this rhythm of work and rest, reflecting God’s own rhythm in creation. The focus here is on delight—enjoying God’s creation and pausing to marvel at its beauty. 

Deuteronomy, however, introduces a different motivation. The command to “observe the Sabbath” is tied, not to creation, but to liberation: “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” Here, the Sabbath is about freedom. It’s a weekly reminder that Israel is no longer bound in slavery. It’s not just a spiritual practice, but an act of justice. It’s a way of ensuring that no one, not even the lowest servant, is deprived of rest.

Think about that for a moment. Sabbath is not just a wellness plan for the privileged; it’s a justice plan for all. It’s a way to ensure that even the most marginalized members of society can experience rest and dignity. On the Sabbath, everyone stands equal before God. The wealthy landowner and the poor laborer, the investment banker and the night-shift janitor—on this day, all have the right to rest. It’s a radical and countercultural concept, especially in a world that so often values people based on their productivity.

In our current culture, this means that observing the Sabbath can be a form of resistance. It pushes back against a culture that glorifies busyness and devalues people who can’t keep up. Sabbath challenges the notion that our worth is tied to our work. It reminds us that our identity comes from God, not from our accomplishments. The Sabbath goes against the grain of our current society and it’s one of the things I love so much about it. In a culture of hustle harder and push yourself beyond your limits, God invites us to pause and rest.

Reviewing our own practices, are we living in a way that supports rest for everyone? Are we contributing to a culture that values people over productivity?  Sabbath is communal and invites us to reconsider these questions – to make choices that reflect God’s heart for justice and equality.

As we think about how to incorporate Sabbath into our lives, remember that it’s not about achieving perfect balance or escaping from work temporarily – it’s about aligning with God’s vision for the world, where everyone has the right to rest and be valued simply for being human. A beautiful and challenging call, but one worth pursuing.